Keep Your Child Safe Online

Protect Passwords

• Remind your child never to share passwords with friends.
• Use a long, unique password or passphrase that is different from passwords used for other accounts.
• Never approve a sign-in request you weren’t expecting.
• If you’re asked to sign in after clicking a link in an email or message, stop and make sure it’s legitimate first.

Filtering and Online Protection

The OCSB recommends using the parental controls and safety features already available on your devices, browsers, and internet services, and regularly talking with your child about what to do if they encounter inappropriate or concerning content online. 

Encourage Reporting

Let your child know that asking for help is a sign of strength.

• Encourage them to report inappropriate content, messages, or behaviour.
• Reassure them that you will support them if they make mistakes or encounter problems online.
• Remind them that “telling is power.”

Bullying can happen online just as it can in person.

Help Your Child

• Encourage kindness, respect, and positive relationships online.
• Teach children what to do if they experience or witness cyberbullying.
• Encourage them to stand up for others safely.

Resources:

What to Do if Someone Is Mean to You Online ›

First, Do No Harm: How to Be an Active Witness ›

French: Que faire si quelqu’un est méchant envers toi en ligne ›

French: Ne pas faire de tort : comment être un témoin actif ›

Understand the Consequences

Students should know there can be legal consequences for:

• Sharing images inappropriately.
• Cyberbullying.
• Hacking.
• Plagiarism.

Understanding AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool, but it raises important questions about ethics, critical thinking, and the environment.

Academic Integrity

Plagiarism occurs when students present someone else’s work as their own. This includes:

• Copying from websites.
• Using another student’s work.
• Submitting AI-generated work as their own.

Help students learn how to:

• Credit sources properly.
• Develop their own ideas.
• Use AI as a learning tool rather than a shortcut.

Model Good Habits

Children learn from what they see.

• Follow the same technology rules you expect them to follow.
• Put devices away during family meals.
• Praise effort, persistence, and learning rather than focusing only on grades.

Resource:

Artificial Intelligence at the OCSB ›

Follow the “3 Ms”

Encourage technology use that is:

Mindful

Using technology with intention instead of out of habit.

Meaningful

Using screens to create, learn, communicate, or connect.

Manageable

Maintaining balance and staying in control of technology use.

Watch for Warning Signs

Screen time may become unhealthy if it:

• Replaces sleep, exercise, or in-person activities.
• Interferes with family time or schoolwork.
• Feels difficult to control.

Create Family Guidelines

• Schedule device-free family time.
• Set bedtime cut-off times for devices.
• Create rules together as a family so children are more likely to follow them.

Encourage Offline Activities

Make sure children have time for:

• Outdoor play.
• Physical activity.
• Face-to-face socializing.
• Hobbies and interests.

Break Automatic Habits

Try creating small barriers that reduce mindless scrolling:

• Change screens to grayscale.
• Use the “10-minute rule” before checking notifications.

Resource:

Building Better Tech Habits ›

French: Adopter de meilleures habitudes technologiques ›

Good sleep is essential for children’s health and well-being.

Healthy Sleep Habits

• Charge phones and devices outside bedrooms.
• Turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime.
• Get bright sunlight in the morning.
• Use calm music or podcasts if your child likes listening before bed.

Remember Social Pressure

Many teens stay connected at night because they feel pressure to respond to friends immediately.

If you introduce new device limits, help your child communicate those expectations to friends so they understand they are not being ignored.

Additional Reading

Statistics Canada: Does Screen Time Make a Difference? ›

NPR: Teens Are Sleeping Less Than Ever and Screens May Not Be Primarily to Blame ›

Video games can provide many benefits, including:

• Teamwork.
• Creativity.
• Problem-solving skills.

However, families should also be aware of:

• Violent or inappropriate content.
• Harmful stereotypes.
• Cyberbullying.
• Contact from strangers through game chats.
• In-game purchases.
• Features designed to encourage extended play.

Stay Involved

The best way to manage gaming risks is to show a genuine interest in what your child is playing.

Helpful Gaming Practices

• Play games together when possible.
• Keep gaming systems in shared family spaces.
• Keep mobile devices out of bedrooms.
• Check game ratings before allowing access.
• Encourage games that support creativity and imagination.
• Encourage online play only with real-life friends using private communication channels.

For Younger Children

Clear expectations can help:

• No gaming until homework is complete.
• Balance gaming with sports, reading, and other activities.
• Connect interests in games to offline hobbies and learning opportunities.

Resources

Co-Viewing With Your Kids ›

Understanding Rating Systems for Video Games ›

Managing Video Game Playing in the Home ›

MediaSmarts Gaming Resources ›

French gaming resources from HabiloMédias ›

If your family has purchased a personal Chromebook (not managed by OCSB), Google offers parental controls.

Important: Have your child sign in using a Gmail account first so that account is the “owner” of their personal Chromebook. Their @stu.ocsb.ca account can then be added as a second account for school use. OCSB policies would be applied to the OCSB account when logged in.

Resources:

Manage Your Child’s Account on Chromebook ›

Today’s online scams are more convincing than ever. Scammers can use text messages, emails, social media, phone calls, videos, and even artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate trusted people and organizations. Children, teens, and adults can all be targeted.

Verify Before You Trust

One of the most important digital safety skills is learning to verify who you are communicating with and whether information is real before responding, sharing, or taking action.

Teach your child to:

• Be cautious when receiving unexpected messages, even if they appear to come from friends, family members, teachers, or trusted organizations.
• Never share personal information, passwords, verification codes, or financial information through text messages, emails, direct messages, or phone calls.
• Verify requests through a second method of communication whenever possible. For example, if a friend sends a message asking for help or money, contact them directly by phone or through another trusted method.
• Be careful when clicking links or downloading files from unknown sources.

Not Everything Online Is Real

Artificial intelligence can now create realistic images, videos, and audio recordings. Sometimes these are harmless, but they can also be used to spread misinformation or deceive people.

Help your child understand that:

• Photos and videos can be edited or manipulated.
• Audio recordings can be created to sound like a real person.
• AI-generated videos, often called “deepfakes,” can make it appear that someone said or did something they never actually did.
• Just because content looks real does not mean it is accurate.

Encourage children and teens to ask:

• Who created this content?
• Where did it come from?
• Is there evidence that supports it?
• Can the information be confirmed by another trusted source?

Think Before You Share

False information can spread quickly online.

Before sharing content, encourage your child to:

• Read beyond headlines.
• Check the source.
• Look for reliable reporting from trusted organizations.
• Confirm information using multiple sources.
• Pause and think before reacting emotionally to shocking or urgent claims.

Be Alert for Common Signs of Scams

Scammers often try to create a sense of urgency or fear.

Warning signs include:

• Messages that demand immediate action.
• Requests for passwords, verification codes, or personal information.
• Offers that seem too good to be true.
• Threats involving accounts, prizes, grades, money, or family members.
• Requests to keep something secret.

When in doubt, stop, verify, and ask a trusted adult for help.

A Family Rule: Stop, Verify, Then Act

A simple rule for both children and adults is:

Stop. Verify. Then Act.

Before responding to a message, clicking a link, sending money, sharing information, or reposting content, take a moment to confirm that the person, message, call, image, or video is genuine.

In today’s digital world, critical thinking is one of the most important online safety skills. Learning to question, verify, and confirm information helps protect everyone from scams, misinformation, and online manipulation.

The teenage years bring new opportunities and new challenges online. Teens often value independence, spend more time communicating online, and may encounter more complex issues related to social media, relationships, privacy, and artificial intelligence.

Keep the Conversation Open

As children become teenagers, they need guidance more than supervision.

• Ask questions with curiosity rather than judgment.
• Talk regularly about social media, gaming, online friendships, and AI tools.
• Listen first and avoid immediately jumping to consequences or solutions.
• Let your teen know they can come to you if something uncomfortable, upsetting, or confusing happens online.

Respect Their Growing Independence

Teens need opportunities to learn how to make responsible choices.

• Explain the reasons behind family technology rules.
• Involve teens when creating expectations around screen time, social media, and device use.
• Focus on building trust and responsibility rather than constant monitoring.
• Check in regularly about their online experiences and digital habits.

Talk About Digital Reputation

Help teens understand that their online actions can have long-term consequences.

• Remind them that posts, photos, comments, and messages can be copied, shared, or saved.
• Encourage them to pause before posting and ask, “Would I be comfortable if a future teacher, coach, employer, or family member saw this?”
• Discuss how a positive digital footprint can support future educational and career opportunities.

Help Teens Manage Social Media Pressures

Many teens feel pressure to stay connected and respond immediately.

• Encourage healthy boundaries around notifications and messaging.
• Discuss the difference between online popularity and real-life friendships.
• Talk about unrealistic images, influencers, and curated online content.
• Remind teens that it is okay to take breaks from social media.

Support Mental Health and Well-Being

Pay attention to how technology makes your teen feel.

Encourage your teen to notice whether their online activities leave them feeling:

• Connected or isolated
• Informed or overwhelmed
• Relaxed or stressed
• Confident or discouraged

Help them make choices that support their overall well-being.

Talk About Artificial Intelligence Responsibly

AI tools are becoming a regular part of school, work, and everyday life.

Help teens understand that AI should be used to:

• Support learning and brainstorming
• Improve understanding of difficult concepts
• Assist with organization and planning

AI should not be used to:

• Complete assignments without understanding the content
• Submit work as their own when they did not create it
• Replace critical thinking and learning

Encourage Balance

Teenagers still need time away from screens.

Encourage regular:

• Physical activity
• Outdoor time
• Face-to-face socializing
• Family activities
• Hobbies and interests away from technology

A healthy balance of online and offline activities supports learning, mental health, and overall well-being.

Remember: Connection Matters Most

Research consistently shows that a strong parent-teen relationship is one of the most important protective factors in a young person’s life. Regular conversations, clear expectations, and a supportive home environment can help teens navigate the online world safely and confidently.